Thailand to close 16 checkpoints along border with Cambodia

Thailand plans to close six permanent and 10 temporary checkpoints along the border with Cambodia, as well as suspending the issuance of temporary border passes to tourist attractions at the Preah Vihear ancient temple, in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province and Prasat Ta Muan Thom ancient ruins, in Phanom Dongrak district of Surin province.

An informed security source said that the closures are necessary to ensure the safety of people living along the border and businesses engaged in cross-border trade.

The border closure is also meant to reduce the possibility of another confrontation between the peoples of the two countries, after Cambodian netizens began stirring up nationalistic sentiments in the aftermath of a recent clash between Thai and Cambodian forces at Chong Bok border pass in Ubon Ratchathani province, which left at least one Cambodian soldiers dead.

Thailand plans to close six permanent and 10 temporary checkpoints along the border with Cambodia, as well as suspending the issuance of temporary border passes to tourist attractions at the Preah Vihear ancient temple, in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province and Prasat Ta Muan Thom ancient ruins, in Phanom Dongrak district of Surin province.

An informed security source said that the closures are necessary to ensure the safety of people living along the border and businesses engaged in cross-border trade.

The border closure is also meant to reduce the possibility of another confrontation between the peoples of the two countries, after Cambodian netizens began stirring up nationalistic sentiments in the aftermath of a recent clash between Thai and Cambodian forces at Chong Bok border pass in Ubon Ratchathani province, which left at least one Cambodian soldiers dead.

The closed border checkpoints are:

• Chong Sa-ngam in Phu Singh district of Si Sa Ket
  
• Chong Chom in Karb Choeng district of Surin
  
• Khlong Loek in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo
  
• Ban Laem and Ban Pak Kard in Pong Nam Ron district of Chanthaburi
  
• Ban Hat Lek in Khlong Yai in Trat
• 

The closed temporary checkpoints are:

• Chong An Ma in Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani
  
• Ban Ta Phraya in Ta Phraya district of Sa Kaeo
  
• Ban Nong Prue in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kae
  
• Ban Khao Din in Khlong Hat district of Sa Kaeo
• Ban Sap Taree in Soi Dao district of Chanthaburi
  
• Ban Bueng Chanang Lan in Pong Nam Ron district of Chanthaburi
  
• Ban Suan Som in Soi Dao district of Chanthaburi
  
• Ban Muen Dan and Ban Chamong in Bo Rai district of Trat
  
• Chong Sai Takoo in Ban Kruat district of Buri Ram